Removal of Formaldehyde with Activated Carbon Nanofiber Delivered from Electrospun Pan-cf

The adsorption behavior of formaldehyde has been examined using PAN based activated carbon nanofibers (PACNF). PACNF was prepared through the processes of oxidation stabilization and successive steam activation of electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber (Diameter: avg.800nm, Nanotechnics, South Korea). Among simple heat treated PAN nanofibers in the temperature range of 500~800C, PAN carbon nanofiber heat treated at 600C for 1h showed the largest adsorption of formaldehyde. The steam activation of PAN nanofiber can further enhance the adsorption capability around twice compared to that of simple heat treated PAN nanofiber. Optimization and detailed analyses of produced activated carbon nanofibers are now in proceeding. The formaldehyde adsorption behavior onto the PACNF is conducted by dry based method with relative low concentration (20 ppm). The coexistence of nitrogen and oxygen functional groups is considered to play an important role for improving adsorption capability of formaldehyde. The PACNF activated at 600°C, which has the most abundant nitrogen functional groups, has the largest breakthrough time.